Alvarezsaurus has the smallest body, mass weight and has the best flexibility in the discovered dinosaur fossil history. Alvarezsaurus has a nick name “Roadrunner” named by several scientists. These Alvarezsaurus has 25- 50 centimeters of body length. It also has a very strong front claws which is used to capture white ants, termites for their food. Due to the small size of Alvarezsaurus which is only 25-50 cm, they has a very powerful back claws which provides them a great speed of escaping from other bigger and more aggressive dinosaurs. The latest discovery of an Alvarezsaurus fossil is on March 30, 2007. The fossil was found in Shan Dong, north-east of China. According to the research by Dr Soloman, comparing the properties of the whole generations of dinosaurs, “Roadrunner” is a very unique species, comparing the differences between the front claws and the powerful back claws, the front claws are much more thick and short. This is very similar to a lot of fast running animals. The structures of his claws may not prove that it was the fastest running dinosaurs in the past, but at least it proves that its movement is extremely quick. This dinosaur lived about 85 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.
The location of ShanDong
General Information
General Information
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Superorder
Dinasauria
Order
Saurishia
Suborder
Theropoda
Family
Alvarezsauride
Genus
Alvarezsaurus (1991)
Habitat and range: The first Alvarezsaurus was found in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation and was named by paleontologist José Bonaparte in 1991.
Source 1:Almost the whole extent of the Neuquén Group is exposed between Lake Los Barreales and the bend of the Neuquén River in the center of this photo.
Bajo de la Carpa Formationis a geologic formation that outcrops in Patagonia, in the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén,Argentina. It is the first of two formations belonging to the Río Colorado Subgroup within the Neuquén Group. At its base, this formation conformably overlies the Plottier Formation of the older Rio Neuquén Subgroup, and it is in turn overlain by the Anacleto Formation, the youngest and uppermost formation of the Neuquén Group (Fossa Mancini et al. 1938, Leanza et al. 2004). The Bajo de la Carpa Formation can reach over 105 meters thick in some locations, and consists mainly of sandstones of various colors, all of fluvial origin, with thin layers of mudstone and siltstone in between. Geological features such as geodes, chemical nodules, impressions of raindrops, and paleosols (soil deposits) are commonly found in this formation as well.
Diet: Even though the roadrunner’s forelimbs were not preserved in the fossils, the dinosaur most likely had the muscular arms and large claws. This has suggested that aardvark has very similar properties. Having muscular arms and large claws provide the Alvarezsaurs having perfect tools to pull apart termite mounds and ripping in its hunt for juicy insect morsels.
Termites
A diagram of an Alvarezsaurus:
Labelled Diagram of an Alvarezsaurus
Behavioural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (1)
Extreme fast actions and reaction:
Alvarezsaurus have body mass and size even smaller than human being, (Scale shown in the diagram below) while an Alvarezsaurus is travelling through the forest searching for ants and termites, there would be some much larger dinosaurs and Alvarezsaurus were their targets. Alvarezsaurus having such a small body mass could be able to travel through their gaps and also having such a fast action and reactions will allow Alvarezsaurus to escape from bigger predators.Such as giant beaver, european cave lions and Rhamphorhynchus.
Scale of Alvarezsaurus to human
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
There are more than 700 dinosaurs species are found and named over the past, and recent researches suggests that there are 700-900 more species remain to be discovered. In the whole dinosaur generations, Alvarezsaurus was one of the smallest ones. This proves that in the natural world, there are a lot more dinosaurs and not many of them having vegetation or termites as their diet.
Behavioural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (2)
Strong alertness:
As it was mentioned above, Alvarezsaurus was one of the smallest bird dinosaur in the 700 discovered dinosaur species. Alvarezsaurus must have a very strong alertness to aware enemies or other predators arrival, otherwise they would not be able to self-defend. Strong alertness can also provide them the fast reaction to escape from any unexpected attack. Strong alertness can also benefits Alvarezsaurus to capture termites and ants escaping from underground. It provides Alvarezsaurus the ability to capture termites and ants in a very quick speed and escape from enemies and find an other area searching for food.
Tyrannosaurus-A much more aggressive dinosaur
Environmental pressure to this adaptation Alvarezsaurus must have a good strong sensitive alertness otherwise it would be easily killed by other dinosaur such as Tyrannosaurus. Alvarezsaurus needs to have a strong alertness in order to provide them the most effect way to escape from enemies and escape from the other predators which is going after it.
Structural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (1)
Thick, muscular and powerful front arms and large claws:
A pair of think, muscular and powerful front arms are very important for an Alvarezsaurus. A pair of thick, muscular and powerful front arms allows Alvarezsaurus to use the minimal energy to cover its long distance for its search for its food, they provides efficiency and effectiveness while Alvarezsaurus are digging into underground for termites. A pair of large claws provide them to pull apart termite mounds and ripping into logs in its hunt for juicy insect morsels. Large claws can also provide them the ability to self-defend from other predators while being attacked.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
There were a lot a much more aggressive dinosaur which has bigger size and stronger strength than these Alvarezsaurus. Alvarezsaurus needs to enter the forest which has other dinosaur habitats in, in order to find enough termites and ants from the underground. During the process of digging, it produces a lot of noise which might possibly let the other dinosaur to take notice of them. A pair of thick, muscular and powerful arms allows them to dig fastly and efficiently into underground to access food resources and have enough time to escape from other dinosaurs.
Structural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (2)
Backbone and pelvis:
Alvarezsaurus has a very special backbone and pelvis. There are several functions of this adaptation. Alvarezsaurus requires a lot of running during the day. Its unique adapted not to twist, which saves energy during the whole running process. Having backbone and pelvis which does not twist can also provides a brace for digging actions, this can provide Alvarezsaurus a more efficient way to dig for food.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
Running is natural to these Alvarezsaurus, all the adaptations they have benefit them on running. An Alvarezsaurus runs miles and miles to find food from underground, and also escaping from enemies. Having this adaptation Alvarezsaurus can escape from enemies easier and also find termites and ants from underground faster.
Physiological Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus
Intelligence ofAlvarezsaurus:
There are pros and cons of having a very small mass of body. Alvarezsaurus having this high intelligence, allows them to travel through massive dinosaurs while in the process of escaping On the other hand, this can provide them a better speed to escape through gaps of other dinosaurs' massive legs. Alvarezsaurus has a intelligence from nature, by the benefit of their high intelligence of escaping, they can have a higher chance of surviving.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation There are a lot of more aggressive and bigger animals in the natural environment. Alvarezsaurus having this intelligence can benefit them on escaping and hiding from enemies. Extinction pressure:
Miocene Epoch:
Many Varieties of animals were well-developed and modern and during the period of time, was when the Middle Miocene disruption occurred. Some scientists believed that during the time of this event, A large number of land and aquatic species were swiped. Approximately up to 30% of animals from the genus of mammalia hve disappeared. Even though scientist still have no clue on why did the Chordata disappeared, however, during the period of time, these were records which stats that the earth encountered a sudden decrease of temperature reflected by the sudden increase of the amount of ice caps in Antarctica. The extreme of cold weather has affected the life from the land and aquatic environment. These animals weren’t able to be adapted to the sudden change in temperature and habitat environment.
Alvarezsaurus has the smallest body, mass weight and has the best flexibility in the discovered dinosaur fossil history. Alvarezsaurus has a nick name “Roadrunner” named by several scientists. These Alvarezsaurus has 25- 50 centimeters of body length. It also has a very strong front claws which is used to capture white ants, termites for their food. Due to the small size of Alvarezsaurus which is only 25-50 cm, they has a very powerful back claws which provides them a great speed of escaping from other bigger and more aggressive dinosaurs. The latest discovery of an Alvarezsaurus fossil is on March 30, 2007. The fossil was found in Shan Dong, north-east of China. According to the research by Dr Soloman, comparing the properties of the whole generations of dinosaurs, “Roadrunner” is a very unique species, comparing the differences between the front claws and the powerful back claws, the front claws are much more thick and short. This is very similar to a lot of fast running animals. The structures of his claws may not prove that it was the fastest running dinosaurs in the past, but at least it proves that its movement is extremely quick. This dinosaur lived about 85 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.
General Information
(1991)
Habitat and range:
The first Alvarezsaurus was found in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation and was named by paleontologist José Bonaparte in 1991.
Bajo de la Carpa Formation is a geologic formation that outcrops in Patagonia, in the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén,Argentina. It is the first of two formations belonging to the Río Colorado Subgroup within the Neuquén Group. At its base, this formation conformably overlies the Plottier Formation of the older Rio Neuquén Subgroup, and it is in turn overlain by the Anacleto Formation, the youngest and uppermost formation of the Neuquén Group (Fossa Mancini et al. 1938, Leanza et al. 2004).
The Bajo de la Carpa Formation can reach over 105 meters thick in some locations, and consists mainly of sandstones of various colors, all of fluvial origin, with thin layers of mudstone and siltstone in between. Geological features such as geodes, chemical nodules, impressions of raindrops, and paleosols (soil deposits) are commonly found in this formation as well.
Diet:
Even though the roadrunner’s forelimbs were not preserved in the fossils, the dinosaur most likely had the muscular arms and large claws. This has suggested that aardvark has very similar properties. Having muscular arms and large claws provide the Alvarezsaurs having perfect tools to pull apart termite mounds and ripping in its hunt for juicy insect morsels.
A diagram of an Alvarezsaurus:
Behavioural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (1)
Extreme fast actions and reaction:
Alvarezsaurus have body mass and size even smaller than human being, (Scale shown in the diagram below) while an Alvarezsaurus is travelling through the forest searching for ants and termites, there would be some much larger dinosaurs and Alvarezsaurus were their targets. Alvarezsaurus having such a small body mass could be able to travel through their gaps and also having such a fast action and reactions will allow Alvarezsaurus to escape from bigger predators.Such as giant beaver, european cave lions and Rhamphorhynchus.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
There are more than 700 dinosaurs species are found and named over the past, and recent researches suggests that there are 700-900 more species remain to be discovered. In the whole dinosaur generations, Alvarezsaurus was one of the smallest ones. This proves that in the natural world, there are a lot more dinosaurs and not many of them having vegetation or termites as their diet.
Behavioural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (2)
Strong alertness:
As it was mentioned above, Alvarezsaurus was one of the smallest bird dinosaur in the 700 discovered dinosaur species. Alvarezsaurus must have a very strong alertness to aware enemies or other predators arrival, otherwise they would not be able to self-defend. Strong alertness can also provide them the fast reaction to escape from any unexpected attack. Strong alertness can also benefits Alvarezsaurus to capture termites and ants escaping from underground. It provides Alvarezsaurus the ability to capture termites and ants in a very quick speed and escape from enemies and find an other area searching for food.
Alvarezsaurus must have a good strong sensitive alertness otherwise it would be easily killed by other dinosaur such as Tyrannosaurus. Alvarezsaurus needs to have a strong alertness in order to provide them the most effect way to escape from enemies and escape from the other predators which is going after it.
Structural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (1)
Thick, muscular and powerful front arms and large claws:
A pair of think, muscular and powerful front arms are very important for an Alvarezsaurus. A pair of thick, muscular and powerful front arms allows Alvarezsaurus to use the minimal energy to cover its long distance for its search for its food, they provides efficiency and effectiveness while Alvarezsaurus are digging into underground for termites. A pair of large claws provide them to pull apart termite mounds and ripping into logs in its hunt for juicy insect morsels. Large claws can also provide them the ability to self-defend from other predators while being attacked.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
There were a lot a much more aggressive dinosaur which has bigger size and stronger strength than these Alvarezsaurus. Alvarezsaurus needs to enter the forest which has other dinosaur habitats in, in order to find enough termites and ants from the underground. During the process of digging, it produces a lot of noise which might possibly let the other dinosaur to take notice of them. A pair of thick, muscular and powerful arms allows them to dig fastly and efficiently into underground to access food resources and have enough time to escape from other dinosaurs.
Structural Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus (2)
Backbone and pelvis:
Alvarezsaurus has a very special backbone and pelvis. There are several functions of this adaptation. Alvarezsaurus requires a lot of running during the day. Its unique adapted not to twist, which saves energy during the whole running process. Having backbone and pelvis which does not twist can also provides a brace for digging actions, this can provide Alvarezsaurus a more efficient way to dig for food.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
Running is natural to these Alvarezsaurus, all the adaptations they have benefit them on running. An Alvarezsaurus runs miles and miles to find food from underground, and also escaping from enemies. Having this adaptation Alvarezsaurus can escape from enemies easier and also find termites and ants from underground faster.
Physiological Adaptation Of Alvarezsaurus
Intelligence of Alvarezsaurus:
There are pros and cons of having a very small mass of body. Alvarezsaurus having this high intelligence, allows them to travel through massive dinosaurs while in the process of escaping On the other hand, this can provide them a better speed to escape through gaps of other dinosaurs' massive legs. Alvarezsaurus has a intelligence from nature, by the benefit of their high intelligence of escaping, they can have a higher chance of surviving.
Environmental pressure to this adaptation
There are a lot of more aggressive and bigger animals in the natural environment. Alvarezsaurus having this intelligence can benefit them on escaping and hiding from enemies.
Extinction pressure:
Miocene Epoch:
Many Varieties of animals were well-developed and modern and during the period of time, was when the Middle Miocene disruption occurred. Some scientists believed that during the time of this event, A large number of land and aquatic species were swiped. Approximately up to 30% of animals from the genus of mammalia hve disappeared. Even though scientist still have no clue on why did the Chordata disappeared, however, during the period of time, these were records which stats that the earth encountered a sudden decrease of temperature reflected by the sudden increase of the amount of ice caps in Antarctica. The extreme of cold weather has affected the life from the land and aquatic environment. These animals weren’t able to be adapted to the sudden change in temperature and habitat environment.
Referencing:
1) The Oligocene Epoch 33.7 to 23.8 mya. Retrieved 14-7-2010 from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/tertiary/oli.html
2) Living the scientific life. Ancient roadrunner-like bird from the age of dinosaur. Retrieved 15-7-2010 fromhttp://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2007/03/ancient_roadrunnerlike_bird_fr.php
3) National Geographic. New"Roadrunner" dinosaur daily news. Retrieved 16-7-2010 fromhttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100331-roadrunner-dinosaur-new-species/
4) Science Daily, Your source for the latest science news. Road-Runner' Dinosaur Lived In The Fast Lane, Dug Termites And Ants. Retrieved 17-7-2010 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100329084854.htm